Treatment of marginal periodontitis may include use of local antibiotics. In the present in vitro study the bioabsorbable materials Surgicel, Tissell, and CollaCote and acrylic strips were examined for release of doxycycline into liquids and residual antibacterial activity of the materials. Pieces of material were incubated in 1 ml of water or human serum which was exchanged every day for 9 days. The concentration of doxycycline in the liquids was measured spectrophotometrically while the residual antibacterial activity of the materials was determined microbiologically. Surgicel constantly showed very high concentrations and level of residual activity. The acrylic strip and CollaCote decreased to low levels of both concentration and residual activity in a few days. Tissell was intermediate with a continuous decrease in concentration but rather high level of residual activity throughout the study. In serum the acrylic strip was partly dissolved and Surgicel was totally dissolved after 2 days. Left undisturbed in serum Surgicel was not dissolved for 2 weeks. These results indicate that Surgicel and Tissel may be capable of prolonged release of doxycycline in vivo.